The 10 Best Acoustic Bass Guitars For the Organic Bass Player 2024

There is no doubt that acoustic bass guitars have grown in popularity recently. Musicians and guitar players are starting to see the benefits of using an acoustic bass guitar, especially for live performances.

Acoustic bass guitars offer a more organic and natural sound than electric bass guitars, perfect for folk, country, and bluegrass music styles.

However, with so many options on the market, knowing which is the best for you can be challenging.

I’ve pulled from my 25+ years of playing experience (and countless hours of research) to compile the ten best acoustic bass guitars for all use cases and budgets. I want your research journey to be painless so you can return to doing what you do best, making incredible music.

Keep reading and see which one calls your name.

Let’s get started!

Martin is an acoustic guitar brand that needs no introduction. They have been crafting some of the best and most innovative guitars since 1833. So it’s no surprise why this acoustic bass made the top of the list.

The Martin BC-16E acoustic-electric bass guitar is an exceptionally crafted and amazing-sounding instrument. This bass features an all-solid Sitka Spruce top with Indian Rosewood back and sides. This class acoustic tonewood combination produces a dynamic, crisp, and projecting tone.

While the BC-16E looks like a traditional guitar at first glance, a lot goes into the design that might go overlooked. First, Martin invented X-Bracing is shifted forward in the guitar cavity to enhance the guitar’s bass response. This means you will get a full, punchy bass sound with insane note articulation without digging into the guitar.

The ebony fretboard and plek’d frets ensure that the action and playability of the guitar are nearly perfect out of the factory. When purchasing a Martin acoustic guitar, you don’t get sharp frets or shoddy craftsmanship.

The onboard Fishman Matrix VT Enhance electronics produce a natural, clean, amplified tone. The bass response stays round a resonant without adding in any “quackiness” often associated with a plugged-in acoustic sound.

While there is very little to complain about with the Martin BC-16E, it isn’t all positive. First, the price point for this acoustic bass guitar will be beyond most players’ budgets. It’s a very niche instrument that is built for advanced bass players.

Also, you would hope Martin would include a hardshell case instead of a softshell case for the price point.

However, if you are looking for one of the best acoustic bass guitars on the market, then the Martin BC-16E will be a purchase that will last you a lifetime.

Fender is the largest guitar manufacturer globally and makes some of the most iconic electric bass and guitars on the market. Most notably, the Fender Precision bass.

They also create some of the best beginner and intermediate guitars with a consistent build and excellent value for money. They know how to make very functional guitars that are easy to play for new guitarists.

In fact, the neck on the CB-60SCE acoustic bass guitar is called the “Easy to Play” neck. This tapered neck design will help you to navigate the fretboard without it feeling too bulky or uncomfortable in your hand.

The stand-out design feature of the CB-60SCE is the solid spruce top. Solid woods have a more resonant sound and will get better with age. Paired with the Mahogany back and sides, you get a bass guitar with snappy dynamics, good projection, and a pleasant full mid-range warmth.

One of the downsides of most acoustic bass guitars is they aren’t very loud if you don’t play them through bass amplifiers. This Fender bass is no different.

To get the most out of this acoustic bass, you must utilize the onboard Fishman Classic Electronics to ensure that you are adequately heard. While these electronics do an excellent job of keeping the big bass sound of the low strings intact, there is a bit of piezo pickup “quackiness” in the high strings that is common with a cheap acoustic bass guitar.

Also, this acoustic-electric bass guitar doesn’t come with a gig bag, so you will have to factor that into your purchase if you want to take the guitar out on the road with you.

If you are looking for the best acoustic bass guitar that is well made, has a reasonable price point, and will last you for years to come, then the Fender CB-60SCE is a fantastic purchase.

Michael Kelly guitars aren’t as recognizable of a brand as Fender, Ibanez, Taylor, or Martin. However, to overlook this guitar manufacturer is a huge mistake, especially when researching the best acoustic bass guitars on the market.

Michael Kelly began manufacturing acoustic bass guitars and mandolins as their flagship instruments. This was because they recognized a significant gap in the market for modern, forward-thinking instruments in these categories.

The challenge with acoustic bass guitars is that low frequencies don’t project and need amplification to match the loudness of an acoustic guitar or other instruments. This can also be a challenge for those who play bass and want to feel the low energy of their playing through an amp.

The Michael Kelly Dragonfly 5 Port Java solves this problem by having a bass port cut out on the top of the guitar so that the guitar has extra resonance and bass projection. This is very convenient for 5-string players when that added low B string only adds to the inherent problem of volume and projection.

The Dragonfly’s construction is unique compared to other acoustic basses on this list. The guitar features an all Macasar Ebony body with a mahogany neck and ovangkol fretboard. This tonewood creates a balanced, full-sounding, and articulate sound from the guitar.

Another aspect of the Dragonfly 5 Port is it’s incredibly playable. The slim C-neck design will feel right at home for any modern acoustic bass guitar player.

Where this acoustic bass guitar shines is in the plugged-in tone. This bass guitar features a Fishman Presys+ Bass with Sonicore pickup and Endpin Jack. Also, a built-in tuner, phase control, and equalizer section help shape your plugged-in tone.

While the Dragonfly 5 Port acoustic-electric bass guitar is an exceptional acoustic instrument, it isn’t without its downfalls. First, the aesthetic of this guitar, especially the intricate inlays, may turn some players off. Also, this guitar doesn’t come with a gig bag. So you will have to factor this into your purchase price.

Suppose you’re looking for a boutique-style bass guitar without paying the high-end price. In this case, the Michael Kelly Dragonfly 5 Port Java is an incredible deal that will last you for years.

Guild crafts some timeless and amazing-sounding acoustics with a jumbo body shape (They ranked #1 for Best 12-String in my review here).

The Guild Jumbo Junior acoustic-electric bass guitar takes the iconic shape and sound of the Jumbo and shrinks it down to a “tiny but mighty” size.

This attractive-looking 4 string acoustic bass guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top, flamed maple sides, and an arched maple back. This tonewood combination gives this acoustic bass guitar a double bass sound that will nicely sit in a folk-rock and acoustic mix.

The Guild Jumbo Junior is the best acoustic bass guitar for players with small hands or for those who primarily play electric guitar.

The scale length (distance from the bridge to nut) is shorter than standard size electric guitars. So the Guild sits comfortably and intimately in your arms. Also, there is less string tension, which makes fretting easier on your hands.

For the price tag, the Guild also has some high-quality design elements that you don’t usually see. There is a real bone nut for the bridge saddle and the neck nut. This helps the guitar’s resonance be more rich and consistent and helps the amplified sound be more accurate and lively.

Speaking of the plugged-in tone, the Guild Jumbo Junior comes with Guild AP-1 Active Piezo pickups. These surprisingly good pickups make this mini guitar sound as good as a full-size bass. In fact, I think the sound of this guitar is better than some of the other long-scale basses on this list.

One of the drawbacks of the Guild Jumbo Junior acoustic guitar is that you don’t get as much sustain as a full-scale bass guitar with a short-scale length. Also, this particular guitar doesn’t come with a gig bag, so you’ll have to factor that into your purchase price.

If you’re looking for the best acoustic bass guitar for small hands, traveling, or as a couch guitar, then the Guild Jumbo Junior bass guitar is an excellent choice.

ESP is known for producing some very shreddable and high-quality electric and bass guitars. They are a popular brand for metal musicians, so including one on an acoustic bass guitar reviews list might seem out of place.

However, the ESP LTD TL4 Thinline is not your traditional acoustic bass guitar.

First, it’s a thinline acoustic bass. So naturally, the unplugged acoustic tone is going to be severely lacking. In fact, if you are looking for an acoustic bass that will sound full and satisfying when sitting on your couch, then this is not the bass for you.

However, when plugged into guitar amplifiers, the thinline body becomes a huge asset because it’s less prone to feedback. Also, the ESP LTD TL4 is constructed out of a laminated Spruce top and mahogany body.

While solid woods are often preferred for acoustic instruments because they have a superior tone, solid wood guitars are much more fragile. However, when hunting for the best acoustic bass guitar for sale for gigging and touring, the laminated construction offers more durability, strength, and consistency than you get with solid wood acoustic guitars.

Also, the 3-piece Thin-U Mahogany neck and roasted jatoba fingerboard are built for fast playing and comfortability. The TL4 comes with 22 Jumbo frets, making intricate bass runs and quick playing very easy. While the lightweight of this guitar (8lbs) will offer you hours of comfortability while playing your gigs.

The TL4 comes equipped with a Fishman Sonicore bridge pickup with a 3-band EQ and a built-in tuner.

The plugged-in tone has a very balanced and dynamic tone. It’s a tremendous acoustic-electric bass guitar for various genres and moods. It can play jazz, folk, and rock with ease. The flexibility of this guitar is another reason it’s a standout for gigging musicians.

However, the TL4 doesn’t come with a gig bag, so you need to factor that into your purchase price. Also, the lack of volume, treble, and bass controls could limit players who want to be able to tweak their sound.

Suppose you’re a musician getting called up to play many gigs and need an acoustic bass guitar that can do it all and is durable and very comfortable to play. In that case, the ESP LTD TL4 Thinline is a fantastic choice.

Like ESP, Ibanez is known for creating forward-thinking and very shreddable electric guitars. However, they also produce some of the best acoustic guitars for the entry-level and mid-market crowd.

Ibanez brings their innovative design and player-focused ethos to the Ibanez AEGB24E acoustic-electric bass guitar.

The AEGB24E features a thin body design that is made with a Sapele. Sapele has a round warmth to the tone that is great for leveling out dynamics for a more even sound. This is a massive benefit for fingerstyle players playing faster bass runs, as individual notes won’t get lost in your playing. Hardwood also helps project the acoustic tone, which is a challenge with other acoustic-electric bass guitars.

Speaking of fast bass runs, this acoustic bass guitar has a shorter scale length (32.09”), making the guitar have less string tension. This helps make the strings feel more “slinky” and bendable. It also puts less pressure on the fretting hand, making playing easier for long periods.

Ibanez has added a thumb rest at the top of this acoustic bass guitar, which adds comfortability and playability for fingerstyle bass playing. This detail is a huge plus for players to help with their control and technique, making this guitar an excellent option for beginners and intermediate players.

The drawback of the Ibanez AEGB24E is the hardware and bridge/nut material aren’t the highest quality. They do the job, but if you want to get the most out of this guitar, you may want to replace these parts with higher-quality ones. Also, this acoustic bass guitar doesn’t come with a gig bag, so you will have to factor this into your purchase price.

Suppose you’re a beginner/intermediate bass player looking for a great fingerstyle acoustic bass. In that case, the Ibanez AEGB24E is one you don’t want to overlook. Check it out today!

Taylor Guitars makes some of the most consistent, high-quality, and innovative acoustic instruments today. Head luthier Andy Powers has made quite the name for himself for bucking traditions and pushing the craft of guitar making into exciting new territories.

While Taylor is known for their six-string acoustics, they bring this innovation and playability into the Taylor GS Mini-e Koa bass guitar.

The GS Mini comes with different tonewoods, but the solid Koa topped and layered Koa back, and sides version is my favorite for various reasons.

First, Koa has a natural brilliance in its tone. This gives the notes more attack and will help the instrument stand out from other instruments. It also has that precise, thumpy low-end that you want out of a full-sized bass. Honestly, the tone that this little acoustic bass guitar produces is beyond impressive.

Because of the miniature nature of the Taylor GS Mini, the strings of a loose, floppy, and warm sound make this bass guitar reminiscent of an upright bass.

Another thing I love about Taylor Guitars is the playability. The GS Mini Koa features a mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard that feels like butter when you play it.

The guitar’s scale length comes in at 23.5”, making this guitar almost an entire foot shorter than a traditional full-scale bass. This short-scale bass fits easily into your trunk or stowed away in an overhead compartment of a plane.

While a lot of the charm of this acoustic bass guitar is in its easy portability and campfire-guitar appeal, it also is a great gigging guitar. The built-in ES-B pickup system does a fantastic job bringing the guitar’s tone to the stage.

While this guitar is expensive for a niche instrument, it comes with a premium Taylor gig bag. This hasn’t been the case for many of the acoustic bass guitars reviewed and is another reason I love Taylor Guitars.

While the Taylor GS Mini-e can hold its own against the other acoustic basses on this list, the transition to such a small guitar might be awkward if you’re used to playing a full-scale bass.

However, Suppose you’re looking for the best acoustic bass guitar for traveling. In that case, the Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Bass is the only choice you should consider. Check it out today; you won’t regret it!

The Ibanez PNB14E was probably designed for the travel guitar market; however, it has all the makings for being the best acoustic bass guitar for kids.

The parlor size body shape and short scale length (24.75”) make the guitar feel intimate and appropriate for those with a more petite body frame.

The short-scale length also gives the strings less tension, so learning on the guitar won’t be as painful as on a long-scale bass guitar.

The open-pore, all Okoume wood top, body, and sides also have a natural sound. Also, Okoume has a natural compression that keeps dynamics to a minimum. This benefits new players who haven’t yet developed the technique and control in their strumming hand by maintaining consistency with each note played.

The built-in electronics come with a tuner, volume, and tone controls. This allows your little one to plug into an amplifier easily.

The laminated construction of this guitar also helps with its durability. As a father of young kids, I know that things get easily bumped and dropped. So rest easy that this guitar can withstand accidents that are within reason.

Suppose your little one is interested in learning a musical instrument. In that case, the Ibanez PNB14E acoustic bass guitar is an incredible value and will last for years.

Fender has done a great job expanding its acoustic guitar range in the past few years. They’ve gone beyond making great beginner guitars. They have created instruments reflecting the surf culture and retro designs that made their electric guitars iconic.

The Fender Kingsman V2 acoustic-electric bass guitar draws from this heritage. It has developed a bass guitar that fits alongside its Precision Bass or Jazz Bass. In fact, The Kingsman uses the jazz bass neck, so if you’re already a Fender player, this acoustic bass guitar will feel right at home in your hands.

Also, the grand auditorium style of this guitar is smaller than a traditional dreadnought body style. This makes the instrument feel more slender and lightweight in your arms (5lbs 12oz). Also, the Kingsman features a 30” scale length, making it a short-scale bass. This shorter scale length makes playing the bass easier on your fretting hand and is an excellent option for those who have smaller hands.

Fender has also included the iconic headstock featuring the same standard bass open-back tuners that mimic their electric basses.

The Kingman V2 features a solid Sitka spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides, and scalloped x-bracing. This tonewood combination creates a guitar that has excellent dynamic range and projection.

The overall sound of the Kingsman is balanced, warm, and mellow.

The Kingsman is an acoustic-electric bass and comes with a Fishman Presys+ Preamp System. This preamp system is very flexible as you get tone, volume, phase, and notch controls. The electronics give you a good acoustic tone while plugged into a PA or amplifier.

Lastly, this guitar comes with a gig bag, which is a welcomed addition considering lots of other acoustic bass guitars on this list do not.

If you’re looking for an effortlessly cool-looking acoustic bass for pop, rock, and indie, then the Fender Kingsman V2 is a guitar that will serve you for years.

It’s good to be conscious of where the materials of the things you buy come from. Especially when it comes to purchasing an acoustic instrument.

Specific tonewoods have been used in guitar construction for centuries. However, deforestation makes some of these woods harder to source.

Some acoustic guitar brands have risen to the challenge of producing high-quality yet environmentally friendly instruments. One of the leaders in this region is Breedlove from Oregon, USA.

The ECO Discovery line uses Breedlove’s proprietary EcoTonewood laminated mahogany back and sides with a 100% sustainably harvested solid Sitka spruce top. While some may shudder at laminated tonewood, Breedlove’s EcoTonewood has a surprising depth and resonance that you don’t get with other 3-ply style laminates.

Also, along with the tone, you get the durability of laminate that will help your guitar last for years.

This acoustic bass guitar is a dream to play. The ovangkol fingerboard with an African mahogany neck has a slim and comfortable C-Shape design. While the concert body design with cutaway allows for easy playing in the upper frets and sits very comfortably in your lap.

Thanks to the mahogany back and sides, the acoustic tone has an excellent projection, while the plugged-in tone sounds rich and balanced. This is surprising as it’s an under-saddle piezo pickup that often can be unflattering to most acoustic basses.

Like most other guitars on this list, the Breedlove ECO Discovery acoustic bass guitar doesn’t come with any carrying case. So you will have to factor that into your cost when purchasing.

You can’t go wrong with this being a 100% sustainable acoustic bass that doesn’t use animal products. Breedlove’s commitment to sustainability isn’t a marketing gimmick. They know how to make a guitar that plays great, sounds amazing, and is excellent for the environment. Check it out!

The Challenge With Acoustic Bass Guitars

Because low frequencies are hard to hear, other instruments often drown out acoustic basses, unlike acoustic guitars. So acoustic bass guitars often must be amplified to be heard.

However, some models of bass guitars on this list, like the Martin BC-16E and Michael Kelly Dragonfly 5 Port Java, have superb construction and projection.

The Bottom Line

So there you have it – the ten best acoustic bass guitars on the market today.

One of these ten models will fit the bill if you’re looking for an instrument to give your music a more organic and natural sound.

However, suppose you’ve got the budget and are a serious player. In that case, the Martin BC-16E is the best acoustic bass guitar money can buy. Check out the full specs if you’re ready to take the plunge today!